Lioli duo set for Norway

MASERU — Two youngsters from Lioli Football Club will this month join the Savvian Norway Academy in yet another first for the Teyateyaneng giants.

Lioli FC president, Lebohang Thotanyana, told a media briefing yesterday that the deal will see the two youngsters spending the next four years at the football nursery.

Thotanyana however said he was still not in a position to reveal the names of the two players.

“Two of our players from the development side are leaving for Norway before the end of this month,” Thotanyana said.

“We are just finalising things with their parents and the whole Norway move is a done-deal.”

Thotanyana added: “They are going to spend the next four years with the Savvian Norway Academy and will be given an excellent starting point there.”

He said the youngsters will leave soon after “the parents, academy and Lioli have reached a conclusion on how the well-being of these youngsters will be maintained while they are away from family for four years”.

Thotanyana said they were working hard to ensure that players are given an opportunity to spread their wings internationally.

“We are always trying very hard to ensure that we give our players an opportunity to grow and up their game internationally and professionally,” Thotanyana said.

The move to send the two players to Norway comes on the heels of the biggest transfer scoop in Lesotho’s history.

Lioli winger Montoeli Sonopo has signed for Spanish La Liga giants Atletico Madrid with the club just putting the final touches to the transfer deal.

Thotanyana said they were finalising the transfer documents for Sonopo.

“It is true Montoeli is leaving for Spain and once all his documents are finalised, he will leave but for now he is playing for Lioli.

“Our agreement with people in Spain is that Montoeli must be there on or before December 1.

“We are currently working on his visa documents and once those are finalised, we will start processing his international documents,” Thotanyana said.

Meanwhile, Lioli are reviewing their players’ salaries.

Tse Nala started paying salaries to their players last season. Their salaries range between M400 and M1 000 a month.

“We are reviewing their salaries but do not have a fixed percentage increase,” Thotanyana said.

“We held a workshop with them just before the beginning of the season and we agreed that their salaries will be reviewed based on discipline, performance and other reasons that might influence salary increment,” he said.

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